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In-universe explanation for sublight propulsion on Tyranid Hive Ships and Ether Swimming Broods?  [RSS] Share on facebook Share on Twitter Submit to Reddit
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Made in us
Imperial Recruit in Training




Texas

Was always curious about this. What's the fluff on how Tyranid Hive Ships and Ether Broods/Attack craft move about in space at sublight speeds? I know the Narvhal is used for creating compressed space to move fleets across vast stellar distances in lieu of FTL travel. But I've never seen the explanation for how Tyranids fleet ships maneuver in battle in the vacuum of space. Never played the BFG tabletop game but played Armada and Armada II and can't recall an explanation. Can't find much info on this specific subject on Youtube, Lexicanum or 40K Fandom either. Even cracked a couple old Nids codexes and not much to be had. Anyone know what it is and if there's a source for it? I know 40K has gaps but usually there's fluff for explaining most things, even the more outlandish stuff. Genuinely curious because I've never heard or seen the lore behind this specific thing though.
   
Made in au
Longtime Dakkanaut




Reaction thrusters. What they use for reaction mass? What do you think they do with all their metabolic wastes?

One of the BFG upgrades for Tyranids basically was a speed upgrade and was given as something like solar vanes, suggesting they were gathering energy from solar radiation via something like photosynthesis (since the amount of actual acceleration gained from light pressure would be virtually insignificant for a multi-kilometer long Tyranid ship). I would rationalize it as that extra solar input is used to power stronger muscle contractions for more forceful expulsion of reaction mass.

This message was edited 1 time. Last update was at 2022/05/13 14:37:13


 
   
Made in nl
Elite Tyranid Warrior




Hive crones are apparently also space flight capable and all they have is wings. I don't think GW's put too much thought into it, unfortunately.
   
Made in us
Decrepit Dakkanaut





Biloxi, MS USA

Iracundus wrote:
Reaction thrusters. What they use for reaction mass? What do you think they do with all their metabolic wastes?


Glad someone else pointed out fart thrusters before I could.

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Made in au
Longtime Dakkanaut




"We're going in through its anus," Biff whooped boisterously.
Indeed. Indeed.
What else could that puckered sphincter be, in the white bony hull of the vast, gastropoidal alien vessel?

The leviathan that loomed ahead seemed a cross between a nautilus and an omnivorous, space-faring snail. It was the length of a four-K asteroid, and almost as high where its shell spiralled upward in a circuit of increasingly small osseous chambers.The shell was bleached chalky by aeons of radiation.

Even as the armoured Fists, tightly packed into a stretched boarding torpedo, stared at the forward viewscreen in its mount of bronze bones, that sphincter pulsed.

It expelled a quick milky cloud, which the torpedo's sensors assayed as consisting of bitter liquid dregs, foul gas, and ashy debris-the fart of a leviathan...

p. 202, Space Marine, by Ian Watson


K= 1/2 mv^2

Imperial ships use expel plasma at high velocity. Tyranid ships seem to expel more mass at a lower velocity. BFG Tyranid ships are generally slower than comparable Imperial ones. Tyranid ships harvest atmospheres as well and these harvested gases could also be used as reaction mass.

However using waste that is not worthwhile to reprocess/recycle any further as reaction mass is a final way to wring some usefulness out of it, while disposing of it at the same time.

This message was edited 3 times. Last update was at 2022/05/13 15:29:49


 
   
Made in us
Humming Great Unclean One of Nurgle






shortymcnostrill wrote:
Hive crones are apparently also space flight capable and all they have is wings. I don't think GW's put too much thought into it, unfortunately.
The method of space propulsion discussed wouldn't work* within a planet's atmosphere, so the wings would be necessary for that.

*Effectively enough to be viable.

This message was edited 1 time. Last update was at 2022/05/13 17:26:23


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Made in nl
Elite Tyranid Warrior




 NinthMusketeer wrote:
shortymcnostrill wrote:
Hive crones are apparently also space flight capable and all they have is wings. I don't think GW's put too much thought into it, unfortunately.
The method of space propulsion discussed wouldn't work* within a planet's atmosphere, so the wings would be necessary for that.

*Effectively enough to be viable.

Heh, I know, it's more that the model doesn't have anything looking like the required type of "rear exhaust port" afaik.
   
Made in us
Stabbin' Skarboy





Could always model them for space travel, I’ve heard of someone who put erm “waste ports” onto some cyber wolves.

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Made in us
Ultramarine Chaplain with Hate to Spare






shortymcnostrill wrote:
 NinthMusketeer wrote:
shortymcnostrill wrote:
Hive crones are apparently also space flight capable and all they have is wings. I don't think GW's put too much thought into it, unfortunately.
The method of space propulsion discussed wouldn't work* within a planet's atmosphere, so the wings would be necessary for that.

*Effectively enough to be viable.

Heh, I know, it's more that the model doesn't have anything looking like the required type of "rear exhaust port" afaik.

There's two little clawed sphincter looking things towards the rear of the model, actually. They're small, but they're something.

Honestly I'd also be fine with the idea that some of the Tyranid ships supplement any "thrusters" with a form of telekinesis, they are such a psychic-capable race.

And They Shall Not Fit Through Doors!!!

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Made in de
Battlefield Tourist






Nuremberg

It'd have to work by emitting gas and conservation of momentum moving the ship in the opposite direction. It'd be slow and costly in gas, but perhaps that's what they use the inert gases of the planet atmospheres they strip for. If they had them under very high pressure, it'd potentially work well enough.

   
Made in us
Ultramarine Chaplain with Hate to Spare






I guess I don't see an issue with Nids being able to generate and combust rocket fuel with their biology. They can fire projectiles of plasma out of their face, so why not their a$$?

And They Shall Not Fit Through Doors!!!

Tyranid Army Progress -- With Classic Warriors!:
https://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/list/0/743240.page#9671598 
   
Made in de
Battlefield Tourist






Nuremberg

Yeah that's a fair cop. We are talking about a species that can apparently generate plasma inside their bodies, so they'd probably be capable of some pretty robust rocket propulsion.

   
Made in ca
Librarian with Freaky Familiar






Nid fart gas.

To many unpainted models to count. 
   
 
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